Music business 'stuck in past'

Industry not ready for the digital age

By
Macworld staff
| 09 Oct 2003

The music business needs to adopt new business models that embrace digital music distribution rather than engage in costly legal action, a research firm claims.

In its report, 'Thinking outside the disc', analyst firm Parks Associates suggests the music industry has "so far failed to adapt" to the digital age. The analysts argue that the businesses fight digital piracy by creating a free music-on-demand service that relies on advertising for its income stream.

Research analyst John Barrett said: "Digital music has changed the market, and business models need to change too or the industry will suffer the consequences. Even if file-swapping networks were to magically disappear, the traditional revenue models would still be under strain," he warns.

Barrett argues that the recording industry has always been able to sell the same musical works multiple times to the same consumer simply by repackaging it. "Digital music allows consumers to repackage music themselves," he added.

The music business is unlikely to adopt such a business model, however, as industries reliant on advertising have been hard hit by an advertising slump in recent years.

Roxio's highly publicised Napster 2.0 legal download service goes live in the US today, but critics do not expect the same level of interest as with its illegal predecessor.